The Azores – a Portuguese cluster of nine volcanic, agrarian islands – is home to hearty foods (local favourite alcatra is a rich and filling traditional dish of slow-roasted meats), a vibrant art scene and lush landscapes punctuated by rolling hills and bold hydrangeas. There are 26 active volcanoes across the isles but descending into the 90-metre-deep dormant Algar do Carvão lava tube on Terceira offers an unforgettable journey into the earth.

A 30-minute drive from the Michelin-starred eateries of San Sebastian is Getaria, a sleepy seaside village also in the Basque region of Spain that enjoys a fraction of the foot traffic. The food here, such as freshly-caught fish grilled at the port and pintxos, is exceptional and best enjoyed with the emblematic sparkling wine, txakoli. Once you’ve satiated your appetite, there’s plenty to discover and the slow, gentle hospitality of the Basque region is on constant display. For a hit of culture, head to the: Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa – this town is where fashion designer Balenciaga was born and the museum stands in his honour – or for some downtime, the beaches are sheltered and safe.

Latvia’s capital of Riga may be a contemporary metropolis bursting with sophisticated street  art and a vibrant culinary crowd, but its history stretches back more than eight centuries. The Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a mecca for Art Nouveau, Gothic and Renaissance architecture. art. Visit the Latvian National Museum of Art and contemporary Zuzeum Art Center (don’t miss its rooftop terrace), or step back in time to the city’s many design periods at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-air Museum. Refuel at the farm-to-table Max Cekot Kitchen, which serves modern Latvian cuisine in a 100-year-old former wood factory, but leave room for a six-course dinner drawing on local produce at hip 3 Pavaru restaurant.

This cycle-friendly city – a 40-minute drive from Copenhagen via the Öresund Bridge – is ribboned with 515 kilometres of leisurely bike paths. Rent some wheels then explore the 1600s-era Old Town before parking your steed at Stortorget square. Malmö is surrounded by greenery and borders the Öresund Strait, and there’s no better way to unwind after working up a sweat than with a classic Scandinavian-style cold dip and sauna at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus. The third-largest city in Sweden, Malmö offers a blend of historical and contemporary experiences: buckle in for great food (try small-menu, local-focused Lyran), a buzzy nightlife scene and must-see museums, including the contentious Disgusting Food Museum.

This Italian region is a jewel in the Lucanian Dolomites. Over 1,000 metres above sea level, Basilicata – nestled on the southern coast of Italy, a two-hour drive from Naples – is known for its quiet villages and proudly held history. The limestone-rich Murgia Materana Park, resplendent with ravines as well as Neolithic, Bronze and Iron-age relics, is a gateway to exploring this fascinating landscape. Don’t miss the remains of churches carved into the volcanic rock – there are around 150 to explore. For a snack, order Lucanian honey on a slice of Matera bread: the latter is made with Lucanian-milled semolina grain and shaped like the mountains of the area where it’s produced.

Viking heritage runs deep on the Shetland Islands, a scatter of atolls at the northernmost tip of Scotland. If you arrive in January during the Up Helly Aa fire festival, you’re sure to get fired up – if you will – about the rich history, as some 1,000 costumed torch-bearers march through the streets of the capital. Accessible via plane or an overnight ferry from Aberdeen, the archipelago is a hiker’s heaven, with over 1,600 kilometres of paths and trails – many traversing dramatic cliffs and rolling hills. Along the way, you might even encounter meticulously maintained thousand-years-old Neolithic settlements. Fill in any historical knowledge gaps at the 3,000-artefact-strong Shetland Museum, or spot one of the island’s namesake ponies, the likes of which have wandered the coast for 4,000 years.

Known as “the gem of the Irish sea”, the Isle of Man – almost equidistant between England and Ireland – is a Celtic nation with a history spanning 10,000 years. The proud Manx culture permeates all parts of Man, which is also a designated UNESCO Biosphere, just 40 minutes by plane from Belfast. Soak it up with walks along 160 kilometres of coastline, visit the commanding Castle Rushen or Peel Castle, stargaze at one of the island’s 26 designated “dark sky” sites or take in a show at the ornate, restored Gaiety Theatre and Opera House in town.

The irregular and craggy arms of Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland make it a picturesque place to explore by boat or car, but the most spectacular view is from the top of Mount Pilatus. The city of Lucerne is a little over an hour from Bern via train, and from there it’s an 18-minute drive to the base of the mountain, where a cable car will whisk you to the mountain’s peak. The lake’s mild climate and changing landscapes can also be enjoyed on a steamboat tour around the azure waterways, where you can peep at lush green mountains peppered with Swiss architecture, a glass of sparkling in hand.

Antwerp, a 45-minute drive from the Belgian capital of Brussels, brims with eclectic design and a riverside alfresco dining scene that rivals Paris and Amsterdam. Known as the epicentre of the world’s diamond trade, Antwerp is also full of more accessible gems: the 181-year-old Antwerp Zoo, one of the oldest in the world; the steel-clad, gilded Antwerpen-Centraal railway station; and the ever-changing Museum aan de Stroom, complete with expansive city views and a rooftop cafe. Old-and-new neighbourhoods celebrate this port city’s colourful Flemish history, but the one must-do is a trip to the Museum Plantin-Moretus, which documents printing and publishing from the 16th century onwards and is the only museum on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Scented with fig, pomegranate and citrus trees, the streets of the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey’s south west are a feast for the senses in summer. Not technically located in Europe, it’s a worthy pitstop on any itinerary to the continent for the year-long temperate weather and incredible views alone (Bodrum is perched on the coast of the glittering Aegean Sea). On land, a smattering of beach clubs make for the ideal way to relax and take in the sights.. Head to Bodrum Maritime Museum to discover the port city’s oceanic history or you can get a taste of it – literally – with homemade bottarga and fresh lemony clams while overlooking the ocean at traditional eatery Orfoz Restaurant and enjoy fish-of-the-day dishes at waterside Memedof. 

The architecture of Montenegro’s largest city echoes more than just the Ottoman empire – you’ll find traces of the Balkan country’s varied cultural influences, too. Podgorica, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Dubrovnik, offers plenty of urban marvels: seek out the over 150-year-old Podgorica clock tower or the Roman-era Ribnica River Bridge to get a taste of the city’s many design cues. Just 10 minutes outside of town, the Vodopad Nijagara (Waterfall Niagara Podgorica) which spills into the wider Cijevna River, is a source of several summer-friendly watering holes ideal for taking a refreshing dip.